INFOGRAPHIC/The Harris Poll.
Key Survey Findings
Ø Economic concerns were found to be a higher priority than climate issues in many countries, with a 23-point gap between climate change and broader economic concerns.
Ø 79% of respondents support community-level climate interventions.
Ø Local climate solutions are viewed as opportunities for stronger communities by 77% of respondents.
Ø Young people in Gen Z and Millennials are particularly concerned about the future, with many already planning for environmental displacement.
By ENVIRONMENT CORRESPONDENT
newshub@eyewitness.africa
As the COP30 talks progress in Belém, Brazil, a new global study has revealed that while 95 percent of people acknowledge that climate change is happening, many feel paralysed rather than motivated to take action.
The report, titled Understanding How People Respond to Climate Narratives, conducted by The Harris Poll, sheds light on how individuals across multiple countries perceive and respond to climate change messaging.
The survey found that 83 percent of respondents said they had personally experienced the physical effects of climate change, yet only 14 percent reported hearing about solutions, rather than warnings of impending environmental threats.
The report adds that many people struggle to imagine what climate solutions look like, with the exception of those in Kenya and India.
INFOGRAPHIC/The Harris Poll.
According to the report, a more effective way to engage people may be to connect climate action to economic benefits. “Connecting climate action to economic benefits bridges belief gaps, reaching skeptics without losing support from believers,” the study suggests.
This approach could prove crucial in combating the widespread sense of urgency and fear generated by climate messaging, which has tended to focus more on threats than practical solutions.
The study also found that economic framing resonates with audiences across different regions, particularly in the U.S., Germany, and Australia.
When discussing climate change, people in these countries responded more positively to language that emphasised cost savings and job creation rather than terms like ‘climate crisis’ or ‘global warming.’
The report highlighted that while terms like “sustainability” and “environmental protection” bring people together, divisive language, such as “carbon tax” and “climate crisis,” tends to alienate them.
A significant takeaway from the report is the growing demand for local climate solutions. Some 77 percent of people view local climate initiatives as an opportunity to build stronger communities, and 79 percent believe that interventions at the community level would be more effective than broader, global measures.
INFOGRAPHIC/The Harris Poll.
“There is a clear desire for tangible, immediate solutions that people can implement in their daily lives,” the report states, underscoring the importance of local action in fostering hope and encouraging engagement.
The study also reveals that younger generations are increasingly anxious about the future, with 58 percent of Gen Z and Millennials globally reporting that many of their peers are making backup plans in case climate-related challenges worsen in their communities or countries.
This growing sense of “vision poverty,” the difficulty in imagining a viable future, appears to be exacerbated by the current state of climate messaging.
In particular, the report highlights that the emotional impact of climate change communication varies by country, with South Korea, the United States, and Germany showing a more negative response, including increased feelings of fear and anxiety.
INFOGRAPHIC/The Harris Poll.
The study’s findings suggest that current climate messaging often leaves people feeling overwhelmed and unsure of how to act. It calls for a shift away from fear-based language towards more solution-oriented and economically grounded narratives.
It also stresses that climate solutions must be framed in a way that is accessible, practical, and rooted in local communities to inspire real change.
The report concludes that climate activism could become more effective if it is framed through local, economic, and practical solutions, offering hope and a clear path forward in the fight against climate change.
The survey, conducted between September 29 and October 10, 2025, included 7,036 respondents across seven countries: Australia, Brazil, Germany, India, Kenya, South Korea, and the United States. The data was weighted to reflect the population distribution in each market.
